Book and paper rack



(No Model.) 7

W. S. MENDENHALL.

BOOK AND PAPER RAOKP No. 431,373.

Patented July 1, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VALTER S. MENDENHALL, OF GOVINGTON, KENTUCKY.

BOOK AND PAPER RACK.

SIEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,373, dated July 1, 1890.

Application filed March 10, 1890. Serial No. 343,833. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, \VALTER S. MENDEN- HALL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Covington, in the countyof Kenton and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book and Paper Backs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of racks of which the supporting parts are laterally adjust-able, so as to accommodate themselves to different thicknesses of books, papers, catalogues, or other similar articles which are desired to be kept in a neat and convenient place.

My in vention'is adapted to be used either upon a desk or to serve as a shelf for books or file-cases.

The object of my invention is to provide a series of rigid supports, which are so con nected to the supportingbase that they can be readily adjusted to any desired thickness or size of article to be held in the rack, at the same time furnishing the requisite amount of strength to sustain the weights and prevent the sagging over of the partitions.

The various features of my invention will be fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a section 011 line so 00, Fig. 1.

1 represents a base, preferably made of wood when intended to serve as a shelf in a book-case. It may be made of any other material when it is to be used upon desks.

2 represents a groove pierced in the top side near one edge of the base. 3 represents a rod lying in said groove, which serves as a guide or ways for the support and adjustment of the partitions 4, which partitions are preferably made with a sleeve 5, pierced to journal on said rod 3. 6 represents a tenon or footon the opposite side of said partitions, which engages with the recess 7 on the opposite side of thebase 1. hen it is desired to use the rack for catalogues, papers, or other light materials, said mortise and foot are not essential, as the sleeve 5 furnishes a sufficient lateral support for the partitions, and the friction will prevent its being moved laterally; .but when the rack is designed to hold books or heavy materials, then the foot and mortise are provided to sustain the weights. When it is desired to move the partitions to change the size of the compartments, they are rocked back upon their journal until the foot 6 is lifted out of the recess '7, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 2, when they may be moved laterally on the rod 3 to the re quired distance and then rocked back to engage with the foot-support.

8 represents a metallic strip pierced with the holes 7 and attached over the groove 9, pierced in thebase 1, which is the preferred form of construction when the rack is designed for books or heavy articles.

For convenience in shipping and for a frictional support of the partitions upon the rod I prefer to have the rod supported by the sleeve 5, and they in turn supported by the bottom of the groove 2, so that there is a frictional contact of the base of the partition with the bottom of the groove. Thus made the construction serves other purposes. It allows the series of partitions and support ing-rod 3 to belifted out together and packed for shipping. It also allows the making of the same in sections, so that the rack is formed of two or more sections; but in case a long rod is employed it is supported at intervals by the sleeves 5, which prevent the sagging of the rod.

, Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A rack composed of the base or shelf 1, the rod 3, secured to the base, and the partitions 4, journaled thereon, so as to move laterally for adjustment and to swing on the rod as a center, substantially as specified.

2. A book-rack composed of the base 1, the rod 3, supported in a recess beneath the face of the base, and the partitions 4, provided with the sleeve 5, journaling upon the rod 3, substantially as herein set forth.

3. A rack composed, substantially, of the base'l,the rod 3,and the partitions 4,j0urnaled in said groove by the sleeves, substantially on said rod and provided with projections at as described. [0 the opposite end engaging with the recesses In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 7 in the base, substantially as specified. my hand.

4:- A rack composed, substantially, of the XVALTER S. MENDENHALL. base 1, provided with groove 2, in eombina- \Vitnesses: tion with the partitions 4, provided with T. SIMMONS, sleeves 5, with the rod 3 detachablysnpported G. W. 1V.[ILES. 

